Holding on to Jah

Roger Landon Hall:
Holding on to Jah (USA, Jamaika, 2009)
98 min. - English

Holding on to Jah is a unique documentary about the history of roots reggae, the culture interlinking with the music and the birth of Rastafarism. An immense amount of archive footage and interviews from the most important roots musicians have been gathered in this very thorough film, and it indeed is one of the best documentaries on the subject in years. This film has not been screened in Finland before so don't miss it!

The director of the film, Roger Landon Hall, has done an enormous job putting the material of the film together. The documentary proceeds from the history of slavery and colonial times to the time of independence and Haile Selassie's visit to the island. Marcus Garvey and Haile Selassie are justly in great roles in the documentary. Landon Hall uses music as means of carrying the story and he does this with a brilliant touch. The most important songs of roots reggae (from artists such as The Abyssinians, IJahMan, The Congos...) give rhythm to the historical material and the numerous coeval interviews present the harsh life of Rastafarians in Jamaica. The list of the interviewees in the film is truly a Who's Who of Reggae: Joseph Hill, IJahMan Levi, Sugar Minott, U-Roy and numerous others tell the story of the living god of Ethiopia.

Holding on to Jah is an excellent introduction to Jamaican culture for everyone interested in reggae and Rastafarism. The soundtrack and the sunny Jamaican scenery alone are enough to make the film worth seeing. The soulful film gives some strength to make it through the grim Finnish winter. One love!

» www.holdingontojah.com

« back

Holding on to Jah

Sat 20th Nov at 5:15pm at Tapio 4